Improvement in valves for steam-engines



E. HILL, Jr.

VALVES FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Patented March 21,1876.

N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFIGE.

EBENEZER HILL, JR, OF SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN VALVES FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 174,954, dated March 21, 1876; application filed February 16, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EBENEZER HILL, Jr., of South Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enableothers skilled in the art to. which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure] is a plan view, partly in section, showing the interior of the valve-chest, with oscillating valve and itsports, and its operating valve-stem.; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, sllowing the interior of the main cylinder and. steamchest, with their working parts.

My improvement is applicable to all doubleacting reciprocating steam engines which are operated without a crank, whereby the motion is more steady and regular, in a special manner, to steam-pumps, direct-acting engines, and the like.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing a direct-acting steam-engine in such a manner that the main steam-valve acts in the two capacities of steam-valve for the main steam-cylinder, and also as a supple mental valve for the auxiliary steam-cylinder, its movement being dependent upon the force resulting from the direct pressure of steam upon the auxiliary piston, and the pressure of steam upon the main piston, which last pressure is so communicated by rods and tappets that it will result in an oscillation of the main valve about a vertical axis.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the cylinder of the engine. P is the main piston, and V the inain slide-valve, which is connected or pivoted to the auxiliary piston C by means of pivot-pin B, upon which; valve Voscillates. Ports E and F communicate from the face of the main valve-seat to the ends of the auxiliary piston-cylinder C. The valve V is provided with. the arm J, connecting to rod I at right angles. This rod I runs longitudinally through the entire length of the steam-chest, and comes in contact with the tappcts on the outside of said chest, through which means, together with the opposing pressure of steam in E, as now shown in drawing, the slide-valve Vis made to oscillate upon the pivot B, opening the port F to live steam, and port E to exhaust steam, which thus causes the piston-plunger C to make a .stroke, carrying with it the main valve V and reversing the engine;-

It will also be observed that the auxiliary engine C is supplied through ports, and also exhausts through ports in the valve V, its wings W W acting as intermediate valves, as described above. G G are tappets. H H are levers, through which motion is conveyed to the rod I, operating the valve V, as before explained.

It will also be seen that the wings W W, at the end of their stroke, cover the exhaust end of the ports E and F; thus, in addition to the operation before described, assists in throttling the steam, as it were, thus preventing the immediate exhaust, and forming a cushion for the piston-valves. The shape of this slide-valve D is somewhat like that of a heart in longitudinal section, tapering from the smallest end to the largest, extending therefrom a connectingarm, and at right angles to it two wings, each having an aperture longitudinally its entire length, the purpose of which has been already set forth. The ports which this valve covers correspond with the valve, the exhaustport being in the center, the ports being gradually increased in size from the small end to the larger, and the valve having a corresponding curvature, economy of material is obtained, simplicity of arrangement effected, and the main object accomplished.

Having thus fully described my invention and its operation, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the oscillating and reciprocating valve V, pivoted to the auxiliary piston, the ports E and F, the arm J, the rod I, and the tappcts G, G, H, and H, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I afl ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EBENEZER HILL, JR.

Witnesses: w

G. H. DISBROW, O. T. EARLE. 

